Christmas tree holder



May 3, 1949. R. A. WUERL ET AL CHRISTMAS TREEHOLDEH Filed Sept. 29, 19 47 Inventors Rudolph A. Wuer/ Randell C. Watkins Patented May 3, 1949 CHRISTMAS TREE-HOLDER Rudolph AL'Wuerl and Randell C. Watkins,

Butte, Mont.

Applicatiomseptember 29, l9 4 tgsenialNo- 776,742

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in Christmas tree holders and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a demountable stand for supporting Christmas trees, poles, standards and the like in a safe and upright position.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a tree holder including novel and improved means for engaging the lower end of a tree to prevent movement thereof when decorated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a Christmas tree holder including a plurality of supporting legs and gripping teeth carried by said legs for engaging the outer periphery of a tree that is to be supported in an elevated position.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a holder for trees and the like that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the present invention in use, and with parts thereof broken away and shown in section;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the leg connecting member; and,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the gripping member carried by each of the supporting legs.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral l represents a plurality of supporting legs each having a straight, inner vertical edge l2, a straight lower edge l4, and an arcuate outer edge 16. The edges [4 and I6 terminate in feet 18 that bear upon a supporting surface, with edge l4 disposed in spaced parallelism with the supporting surface.

The numeral 20 represents the leg connecting member generally comprising a fiat circular base plate 22 having outwardly projecting radial arms 24 that are preferably integrally formed with said base plate. The side edges of these arms 24 are turned upwardly to provide a pair of spaced parallel ears 26 that engage the lower inner corners of the legs l0. These ears 26 are provided with aligned apertures 28 that engage a rivet or the like 30 that pivotally engages an inner portion of an inverted L-shaped notch 32 provided in each of the legs adjacent the lower inner corners thereof. A substantially triangular tab 34 is punched outwardly from the center of plate 22 for a puurpose which will later be more fully described.

The numeral 36 represents the gripping members that are used in conjunction with the present invention. These members are substantially U-shaped and are provided with apertures 38 in their web portions that engage suitable fasteners 40 for removably securing the same to the upper inner edge I2 of the legs ID. The sides of their members 36 are provided with a substantially ,U-shaped notch 42 to divide the same into a pair of gripping teeth 44.

It should be here noted, that the lower edge I4 is notched at its innermost end so that the lower face of the plate 22 is coplanar with edge l4, also, the uppermost end of edge I2 projects inwardly slightly beyond the lower portion of edge [2 so that teeth 44 project well outwardly from edge I2.

In practical use of the device, the legs are tilted slightly in a vertical plane so that edges [2 are inclined and so that the lower flat terminal of a tree, post or the like 46 will be forcefully penetrated by tab 34. The legs H! are then pivoted inwardly so that teeth 44 bite into or penetrate the outer periphery of the tree to support the tree in an upright position.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A tree holder comprising a plurality of legs having lower edges, 2. base plate having a central portion, a tab struck upwardly from the central portion of said base plate, a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially disposed channel members integrally formed with said base plate, the web portions of said channel members bearing against the lower edges of said legs, anchor plates carried by said legs, gripping teeth integrally formed with said anchor plates, and means removably securing said channel members to said legs.

2. A tree holder comprising a, plurality of legs having lower edges, a base plate having a central portion, a tab struck upwardly from the central portion of said base plate, a plurality of circume ferentially spaced, radially disposed channel members integrally formed with said base plate, the web portions of said channel members bearing against the lower edges of said legs, anchor plates carried by said legs, gripping teeth 'integrally formed with said anchor plates, a holding pin carried by the leg portions of each of said channel members, and upwardly extending bayonet slots provided in the lower edges of said legs engaging said holding pins.

RUDOLPH A. WUERL. RANDELL C. WATKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are bfreco'rd in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

